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BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY

Early life

Nazir
was born in Chirayinkeezhu in the princely state of Travancore, to Akkode
Shahul Hamid and Asuma Beevi. His mother died when he was very young. He
completed his formal education from KadinamkulamLowerPrimary
School, SriChithiravilasamSchool,
S D College (Alappuzha), and Saint Berchman's College (Changanassery). By the
time he completed his education, he had become an experienced drama artist. It
was on the sets of his second movie, Visappinte Vili (1952), that Abdul Khader
was renamed Prem Nazir by Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair.

Entry into cinema

Prem
Nazir had his acting debut as Shylock in the play The Merchant of Venice (1951), when he
was a student at SB College, Changanacherry. He won the best actor award for
this role in the play directed by Sheppard. His first film was Marumakal
(1952), directed by S. K. Chari and produced by Paul Kallungal. He was credited
Abdul Khader itself in this film. He got his career break with Visappinte Vili
(1952), his second film, made for K&K Combines (Udaya Studio) by Telegu
director Mohan Rao. PremNazir started his career when drama was the most
popular visual medium and film making at its infancy. He started acting for the
Excel Productions (Udaya Studio) and most of his films were for the Udaya and
Merryland Studios.

Rise to stardom

With
the arrival of Nazir, there was a new screen personality, a new debonair actor
who could be the heart throb of the youth. Prem Nazir acquired the halo of a
romantic hero and a loyal following. His tear-jerkers were very popular with
women audiences and soon made him a darling of the masses. He soon became the
first real star of Malayalam cinema. Another factor that helped Prem Nazir's
instant rise — as it had the rise of his contemporaries in other regional film
industries — was the continuing reign of mythologicals and devotionals.
Costumed musicals, filmed start-to-finish within the confines of a studio,
contributed their own. All such films for a long period kept him before his
fans, nourished his romantic image and provided him unlimited scope for
rehearsing and refining his talent in essaying diverse roles. Since the bulk of
South Indian cinema was theatrical visually and aurally, Prem Nazir's stage
background and his extraordinary command of Malayalam helped him win the hearts
of his audience.

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Golden years

In
the late 50s, Nazir drew attention by playing movies with themes based on
social and religious injustices in the society. From 1956 to 1976, Prem Nazir
rode high at the crest of a tidal wave of popularity and also gave his best to
Malayalam cinema. Nazir catapulted to the row of the finest actors of India with the
film Iruttinte Athmavu (1967). Playing a demented youth — Velayadhan, Prem
Nazir discovered his prowess as a dramatic actor of great intensity. Many
critics have evaluated this role as his masterpiece, and as one of the finest
onscreen performances ever. Written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, the film provided
Malayalam cinema with a new direction; that of the low budget film. One could see
a lot of the pre-occupations of the scenarist, who carried the touches of human
relationships through all of his subsequent films whether as screenplay writer
or director. In spite of its large number of studio shots and overall
theatricality, the film was so culturally rich that many of the episodes would
become archetypes for future Malayalam film makers dealing with family drama.
It depicted the story of an imbecile (finely portrayed by Prem Nazir) in a
joint family with remarkable sensitivity and seriousness of purpose.

During
his peak time, Nazir gave life to many characters and enjoyed a wide popularity
among all sects of the society. He has played historical characters based on
Vadakkan Pattukal. Aromalunni, Kannappanunni, Thacholi Ambu and Padayottam are
some major films in this genre. Although the actor faced criticism for playing
such roles as his physique was least suited for it, he still enjoyed a huge fan
following among the audiences. He was well known for his roles as Hindu deities
like Rama, Krishna and Ayyappa. In his movies,
Nazir was well known for essaying the eternal romantic hero and the good guy
who would bash up the villains without remorse.

Even
though Nazir could not regenerate after the mid-1970s, he maintained his
superstardom till the beginning of 1980s. In 1979, 39 of his films got
released; a record. He also holds the record for having acted in the most
leading roles – about 700 films (with 85 heroines; another record). Another
record is for the most enduring screen team along with actress Sheela. They
played opposite each other in 130 movies by 1975. Although Sheela is known as
the lucky mascot of Prem Nazir, his movies with other heroines like
Jayabharathi and Sharada were also big successes at box office. Prem Nazir pairing
with comedian Adoor Bhasi was a sure-fire laugh riot. The void left by this duo
is yet to be occupied. Nazir's association with playback singer K. J. Yesudas
was perfect for the audience. Even today many consider the Nazir – Yesudas
combination of song sequences remains the best ever on screen. He is quite
popularly described as Nithyaharithanayakan (The Evergreen Hero), which do
justice to the fact that he was acting as the hero in his elder years as well.
Senior Malayalam cine actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma has revealed that Prem Nazir
was a very good singer, and had training in Carnatic music.

Late career

By
the beginning of 1980s, Nazir himself moved into supporting roles. He mostly
played supporting roles with the then super stars Jayan, Sukumaran and Soman.
In 1981, he played a major supporting role in Mohan's Vida Parayum Munpe that
earned him the KeralaState Special Jury Award.
This shift, from a super romantic hero to character roles, gave him many
powerful characters during the mid-1980s. His last completed film was A. T.
Abu's Dhwani (1989), in which he co-starred with Jayaram. His last release was
Priyadarshan's Kadathanadan Ambadi (1990), in which he co-starred with
Mohanlal. In one of his last interviews, he had expressed a desire to direct a film
with Mammootty and Mohanlal in the lead.

Personal life

Prem
Nazir was a teetotaller. He was not only a fine actor but also a good human
being. He tried his hand in politics and had joined the Congress Party but he
never contested elections. He was also a social reformer and with a helping
mentality to others. He helped with money to some public needs in and around
Chirayinkeezhu. e.g.:- KoonthalloorSchool, ChirainkeezhuHospital, Palakunnu
Library etc. Nazir also wrote a book on the film characters he essayed, Enne
Thediyetha Kathapathrangal.

Prem
Nazir's younger brother Prem Nawaz (Abdul Wahab) also acted in a few films.
Although he was the first in the family to begin acting in movies, he later
began producing films – Agniputhri, Thulaavarsham, Poojakku Edukatha Pookkal,
Neethi and Keni to name a few. Prem Nawaz's only son, Prem Kishore has also had
a stint with the industry by acting in two Malayalam films – Vacation and
Thaskaraputran. Prem Nawaz has the distinction of acting in the first ever
colour film made in Malayalam – Kandam Vechu Kottu. Prem Nazir's son Shahnawaz
acted in a few films as well but could not succeed like his father.

Prem
Nazir has three daughters viz. Laila (married to Engineer Rashid of Trivandrum & settled at Calicut), Rasiya (married to Mr.Hashim,
Businessman from Kannur & settled at Chennai) – both elder to Shanawas. The
youngest daughter is Rita (married to Doctor Sharafuddin of Punalur &
settled at Muscat).
Shanawas's wife Aisha (Malaysia)
is the daughter of the eldest sister of Prem Nazir Late Suleikha Beevi.